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The Role Of Misogyny In Shakespeare's Hamlet

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In the play Hamlet, by William Shakespeare, the main character, Hamlet, claims and perceives women to be treacherous, heartless, and untrustworthy. The root of Hamlet's hatred for women seems to have began with his mother, Gertrude, and is then taken out on the fragile, young Ophelia. His father’s mysterious, unnatural death is also a possible cause of his beliefs and actions. Throughout the scenes, Hamlet’s mental state worsens and we can see a clear pattern of misogyny in his communication and actions with the female characters in the play. Hamlet’s deep-rooted hatred and confusion of love is much more complex than just the simple fact of misogyny or his dislike for women. There are many possible explanations for his actions that can be contributed

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